Animated figure toy



Aug. 20, 1963 c. D. BRNNEMAN ANIMATED FIGURE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 6, 1961 BATTERY Clifford D. Brenneman INVENTOR.

Allg- 20, 1963 c. D. BRENNEMAN 3,100,949

ANIMATED FIGURE TOY Filed Oct. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Clifford D.Brenneman 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent O M escasas ANIMA-@TED FEGURE TUY Clifford D.irennemam Box 93, Graegle, Calif. Filed Get. 6, 1961, Ser. No. lid-3,3656 Qiaims. (Cl. i6- 241) The present invention relates to an animatedtoy, more particularly, -a novel plaything, a doll or the like for eX-ample, which is unique in that it is provided with an amusing movableobject functioning to render the toy novelly attractive.

The preceding objective and concept is, yof course, not new. In fact,the art to which the invention relates is made up of manydistinguishably varying figure andother toys where motion imparted tosome component part of the toy gives the toy its innovativecharacteristics. It follows that an objective in the instant mattter isto provide a ligure toy, a doll for instmice, wherein the doll is uniqueby reason of the fact that it is fashioned as or to represent -a batontwirler, so to speak, and which as a result of its original appearanceand behavior willappeal to the young and fold alike.

It should be understood, from the very outset of this disclosure thatthe toy need not, manifestly, take the form of a doll or, for thatmatter, a baton twirling doll for,

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Patented Aug. Z0, 1963 nand elevation taken on the plane of thehorizontal line `2---2 of FIGURE l and showing the arm straight out;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view with parts in elevation and section andwhich shows fthe hollow space and the significant components and theirIassociation and arrangement;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section on the plane of the section line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3; p

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective View showing a portion of the batonand the slip joint coupling `and motion obviously, any suitable figureor well known creature or animal may be imitated or represented. Then,too, the so-called baton twirling or handling trick may be achieved byusing some other attractive well known object than a baton for thedesired animated result.

Notwithstanding the above aspect of the diversified overall concept itis desirable to embody the inventive idea in -a baton twirling doll. Tothis end the invention pertains, briefly summarized, to a hollow :or anequivalent plastic doll ranging, let us say, from l2 to 36 inches inheight. At least one hollow arm-of the doll terminates in a speciallyconstructed hand fashioned to resemble the position taken by a twirlershand when actually performi ing. The baton is poised in relation -to thehand and is driven by an elongated iiexible motion transmitting shaftwhich extends through the arm into the hollow portion of the body of thedoll where it is connected with a motor which is `also supported andconcealed in the hollow portion and is operated by 4a switch-controlledreadily insertiable and removably dry cell battery.

More specifically, a simple, practical and `expedient motiontransmitting coupling is incorporated in the dolls hand and, what isalso significant, the coupling is characterized by a turnable socketmember, said socket member being constructed of rnagnetizable metal andbeing adapted to telescopically receive an insertable and removablepermanent magnet which is suitably joined to the baton, whereby toprovide an eliective quick separable joint or connection between thesource of power and the baton or equivalent rotatable object.

More explicitly'it is an aspect of the overall concept to utilize a dollwhose arm is not only hollow and constructed to accommodate the flexibleshaft and coupling means but is bendable and has the desired inherentmalleable properties that it may be bent to assume different positionsand mannerisms to add to the display effect of the twirling baton muchtothe amusement of the observer, the baton receiving fthe necessarypower notwithstandhig the arms position Yand shape.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a view in perspective of an animated ligure toy, morespecifically a baton twirling doll,con

transmitting means;

FIG. 6 is a section-al viewshowing the connection between the arm andshoulder.

FIGURE 7 is a view greatly exaggerated and in section and elevationtaken on the section line 7-7 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 8 is a similar fregmentary view on the line 8--8 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring diagram.

Keeping in mind the scope of the invention in accordance with thealready given objectives the animated figure toy, generally speaking,takes the form of a suitably constructed baton twirling doll, the loweror leg portion thereof being denoted at 10' and the arrn and headequipped body or upper portion being denoted generally at 12.Speciiically the stationary `arm is designated at 14, the improved batonholding and twirling arm at 16 and the head at 1S. The shoulder portionis designated at 20, the forearm 22 and the hand at 24; The plasticmaterial used must be of the desired pliant bendahle and malleable type.The shoulder portion 26 in FIG. 6 has an opening 28 encircled by aflange Sti to which a wooden or an equivalent rigid diaphragm 32 issecured as at 34. This component or diaphragm 32 has a hole 36 thereinto` accommodate the coiled casing `or housing 38 of the flexible shaft40.- As shown in FIG. 2. the elbow portion of the arm is suitablyconstructed as at 42 to accommodate a `smaller shaft supporting memberor diaphragm 44 through which the casing is shown passing in FIG. 2.

, Before taking up the novel coupling `and motion trans-- inittng meansof FIGURE `7 attention is directed to `FIG- `vided with Ia closing endplate Ior disk 50` :accessibly tached tothe lower body part 10. Thisplate is provided i Von its underneath iside with a U-shaped hangerstrap 63 embracing the dry cell battery 70. Also fon .this salme sidethere is an L-shaped clip or hanger 72' having a portion 74 fashioned toseat the fend portion of the dry cell battery and tol accommodate thecoil spring 76. `The contact 7S at the other end ofthe battery iscooperable with a contact element Sti onf-an accessible removable coveror closure plate SZvWhereby to thus mount the battery for operation. Theelectrical conductors, onefrorm the battery at 84 and the other one S6from the contact element are shown and suitably connected with the motor.for equivalent prime mover 54. i

Attentionis now directed to FIG. V7'infconjiinctiom of course, withFIG.' 5.` it will be seen that the bearing and member.

coupling means comprises a cylindrical barrel or cylinder `3S having ananchoring ange 9b intermediate its ends and embedded in the portion ofthe hand 24. At the lef-thand end the barrel has 1an axial extension 92suitably constructed to permit Athe coils 94 of the shaft housing to besecured thereto and to permit the yterminal end por- .tion 96 of theshaft't-o be journaled for rotation therein.

The nut-equipped end 98 of the shaft end is 'suitably connected to aninsulated cup 1G@ Which is freely mounted for rotation in the barrel 88.This cup is provided interiorly Y with `an elongated socket member 102lwhich is non-oircular in cross-section to provide a keying socket forthe insertable `and removable key 104. It is' to be pointed out herethat the cup 1% Vand socket member 192 are connected by la setscrew 103.The key MP4 preferably comprises an elongated permanent magnet which asshown in FIG. 5 is connected atone end to a disk 1% Vwelded f or.otherwise joined to the rod portion w8 of the baton 110. Both components16d and N2 may be magnets `or the partv 102 may be a magnetizableelement.l In any eventthe attraction object, the baton 119, is lprovidedwith ya key or the llike Which'has slip joint connection with a drivensocket member whereby to thus-provide `a specifically distinct and novelaspect of the over-all invention.

lit is brought out in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the bendable maybe adjusted andset by hand so that different positions may be'assurned. I-t is furtherclear that the yelectric: motor can be inserted from the back andpositionedjas illustrated in FIG. 3. Also the cover plate 32 is readilyapplicable and removable to allow the orginal dry cell battery tobeinstalled or replaced when worn.

It will be evident that by turning the accessible switch A.V

(FIG. 3') onrlthe motor will be. supplied with current and a battery andthe motor shaft 56 will impart rotation to the elongated flexible shaft.operates'itlhe novel slip. joint coupling 'and motion trans- V* mittingmeans illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.Y Assuming y l at the toyv is a dolland that the animated plaything is abaton, it will be evidentthat withVthe baton inV place it will be -twirled or rwhirledfin an :attractivemanner.

vIt is-believed that a careful consideration of the specircation inconjunction with the` views of the drawings will enable the reader Itoobtain a clear and comprehensive yunderstanding of the 'construction andoperation of the invention.` Thereforefa more lengthy description l.isregarded as unnecessary. Y g The foregoing-is considered .asillustrative only ofthe The latter shaftin turn portion of the arm andconnected with thesupporting means, said supporting means embodying astationary bearing, said socket member being confined and rotatable i-nsaid bearing. j

' 3. ln combination, a hollow body having a hollow arm having a freeouter end portion provided with a xedly mounted barrel constituting abearing, motion transmitting `and coupling means mounted for rotation inl'said principlesof the invention. Further, since numerous modicat-ionsand changes will readily occurto those skilled in the lart, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the may be resorted to, falling withinthe scope of the inventionv-asolairned. j Y Y What is claimed-as new is"as follows: 1. An animated figuretoy `comp-rising Ya body con,

structed to represent @a given` iigure'and having a hollow ,chamberlyand at leastone i,lin'ib with la free terminal end Lportionprovided-with bearing rmeans, a prime mover fixed andwconined in saidchamber, a ilexible motion trans- Vexact, construction and operationshown and described, 'and accordingly all suitable modifications, andequivalents barrel and including a socket member, said socket memberbeing constructed of magnetizable metal, a baton ernbodying a handleprovided with a lateral shank, said shank comprising la permanent magnetand said magnet constituting a key and being slidingly keyed in thesocket of the socket member, a flexible shaft connected at one `end withthe socket member, and an electric motor in the hollow portion of thehousing, the other end of the shaft being connected with said motor.

4. The structure dcined in claim 3 and wherein a divider plate ismounted in the hollow portion of the body, said motor being iixed to thebody above the planeof said plate, said divider plate having hangerbrackets on an underneath side to support an applicable` and removablebattery for said motor.

5. An animated figure toy `comprising a body constructed to represent agiven iigure and having a hollow chamber and including abody portion,legs, arms, head and neck connecting the head to the upper end of thebody portion, one of said arms being Xed on the body portion andconsequently relatively stationary, the other arm being made of-bendable malleable material and being shapeable and positionable in adesired manner relative to said body portiornsaid one arm terminating atan outer cned in a suitably .poised` hand, an electric motor fixedlymounted `and -conned in said hollow chamber, plate means mounted in saidbody portion and provided with a battery. adapted vto supply current tosaid motor, a hanged barrel anchored in a terminal end portion of saidhand and providing a bearing, socket means'mounted for rotation in saidbearing', a `baton having a statiT with shank means thereon separablyfitted into ,and joined'to said socket means for rotation therewith, anda flexible power y transmitting 'shaft having one jend operativelyconnected with a shaft provided therefor on said motor and having theyopposite end `operatively connected with said'socket means.

6. An animated gure toy comprising la body constructed and designed torepresent a given figure, said body having a hollow chamber andincluding a body portion, legs, arms, a head and a neck connecting thehead to the upper end of the body portion, at least one of said armshaving a free terminal end ,portion embodying bearing means, a primemover confined for operation in said chamber, airiexible motiontransmitting shaftoperatively connected at one end with said primemover, a rotatable lattention attracting object separate/from `saidbody, said motion transmitting shaft having a free end remote from saidone end, said free end being provided with a driven socket member, saidobject comprising a toy baton having a shankembodying apermanent magnet,said socket inemmitting shaft operatively connected at one end vwithsaid prime movenl a movable' attention-attracting object adaptedl tomove 'relative tosaid limb, the end 'of lsaid. Y

` shaft opposite said one end embodying a driven socket memberofmagnetizable metal, said object comprising a baton, said'bato-nembodying ahandling staif provided intermediate its ends fwith alaterally projecting permanent magnet constituting Va couplingv `andVkeying` shank, said! 'i Vshank beinig adapted to beslidingly keyed insaid socket 2. 'The structure defined inl claim-'1 and wherein `said Y4body comprisesV a plastic doll, saidlirnb comprising a bendable yarmvterminating in a desirablyy poised hand, said beingzhollow'and `providedwith shaft lsupporting means, saidshftextending Vaxially through thehollow ber embodying magnetiza'ble material and'said shank being fittedtele'scopically and removably into the socket of being separablyconnectible y said socket member and therewith.-

References Cited intherle of this patent Y j j ornaa naraaeNoas Y YWashington Daily News, April 14, 1960, page 68.

1. AN ANIMATED FIGURE TOY COMPRISING A BODY CONSTRUCTED TO REPRESENT AGIVEN FIGURE AND HAVING A HOLLOW CHAMBER AND AT LEAST ONE LIMB WITH AFREE TERMINAL END PORTION PROVIDED WITH BEARING MEANS, A PRIME MOVERFIXED AND CONFINED IN SAID CHAMBER, A FLEXIBLE MOTION TRANSMITTING SHAFTOPERATIVELY CONNECTED AT ONE END WITH SAID PRIME MOVER, A MOVABLEATTENTION-ATTRACTING OBJECT ADAPTED TO MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID LIMB, THEEND OF SAID SHAFT OPPOSITE SAID ONE END EMBODYING A DRIVEN SOCKET MEMBEROF MAGNETIZABLE METAL, SAID OBJECT COMPRISING A BATON, SAID BATONEMBODYING A HANDLING STAFF PROVIDED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS WITH ALATERALLY PROJECTING PERMANENT MAGNET CONSTITUTING A COUPLING AND KEYINGSHANK, SAID SHANK BEING ADAPTED TO BE SLIDINGLY KEYED IN SAID SOCKETMEMBER.